Locking slider for slide fasteners



N 0 1 U. 4 t 5 w W 4 h 7 w F H 9w w mL N 2 u T W h N S ED H 2 mm A N 4 R E B B. s'. FRANKLIN LQCKING SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Flled Feb 2, 1940 7 Feb. 24, 1942.

w w N m w m H w m .m: A f Y 5 6 N i 0 8 W0 W 2 mR A H 4 W 9 B N B s. FRANKLIN LOCKING SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Feb, 2. 1940 Patented Feb. 24, 1942 LOCKING SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Bernard S. Franklin, New. York, N. Y., assignor to Conmai- Products Corporation, Bayonne, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 2, 1940, Serial No. 316,881

17 Claims.

'This invention relates to slide fasteners, and more particularly to locking sliders for the same.

The primary object of my invention is to generally improve locking sliders for slide fasteners, and more especiallysliders of the automatically locking type.

Another object is to provide a lock action of I such nature that it may be applied to slide fasteners intended to be used in inverted position or in upright position, although the specific construction of the slider particularly centering about th pivoting of the pull thereon, may difi'er for these two applications. t further object is to provide a-spring-operated automatic slider, the spring action of which is obtained dtirectly from the lock member or looking tooth 1 self.

To I the accomplishment of such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the locking slider ele ments and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought-to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. l is a section through a, locking slider embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the slider;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 47is a section similar to Fig. 1, but showing the slider in unlocked condition;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section similar to Figi 3, but showing the slider in unlocked condition;

Fig. 6 is a section through a modified slider intended for use on an upright rather than inverted slide fastener;

Fig; 7 is a longitudinal section through the slider taken in the plane of the line 1-1 of i Fig- 8 is a rear elevation of the same, drawn to smaller scale;

Fig. '9 is a section through still another modified form ofslider; l

- Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane of the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 9; r

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of'the slider; and

Fig. 12 is explanatory of a detail in the con struction of the slider.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly toFig. l, the slide fastener may be conventional in character, it comprising tapes I! having beaded or corded edges H with' interlockable'fastener elements l6 secured therealong.

. Only a fragment of the slide fastener is shown.

the foregoing and and it will be'understood that the complete fastener may be provided with suitable top and bottom end stops. It will also be observed that the fastener is shown in inverted position, that 5 is, it is closed by downward movement of the slider. I

The slider is generally designated l8. Referring now to Figs. 2 through 5 of the drawings,'

10 the slider comprises top and bottom walls 20 and 22, these being appropriately flanged at 24 substantially in accordance with conventional practice. In the present case the top and bottom walls are formed of a'single piece of metal c011 nected by a neck 26. The neck portion or camming portion of-the slider is completed by means of a generally wedge-shaped block 28 which is disposed between the walls of the slider and se-- cured in position in any desired manner. In the present case, the walls are secured to the block 28 by spot welding.

The neck portion of the slider receives a locking member 30. This is preferably a strip of spring metal extending transversely of the 2 lider through the neck portion, and having a length such that the ends of the spring strip act as looking teeth which are received between the elements of the slide fastener, as is best shown in Fig. 1. Inasmuch as the elements are stag- 30 gered relative to one another on the two stringers, the locking strip 30 may,if desired, be biased to accommodate this alternation of the elements, but I find that it is not necessary to do this, for the elements will oscillate or yield somewhat on one side or the other, as may be necessary to receive the locking strip, even when i the strip is disposed horizontally, as shown in the drawings.

The neck portion of the slider is recessed or 40 hollowed on one side of spring strip 30, as is indicated at 32.v This space is preferably pbtained by bending tabs of metal 34 inwardly from the ends of neck 26. These tabs may be formed integrally with neck 26 and the main top and 15 .bottom walls of the slider. The block 28 is spaced somewhat from the ends of tabs 34, thus forming the desired passage which receives the spring strip 30.

It may be pointed out that any tendency of .50 the slide fastener to open causes the elements to bear downwardly against the locking teeth. This tends to flex the center of the spring strip upwardly, which, however, is prevented by block 28. It will be observed that the corners or -shoulders 36 of the slider extend far enough downslider, and opened by upward movement of thefinger.

the upper surface of block 82.

wardly to confine the tapes and fastener elements against outward or spreading movement whichmight permit them to escape the ends of lock strip 38. It will also be noted in Fig. 1,- that the strip is held in centered or symmetrical relation to the slide fastener, as by means of small tongues 38 struck downwardly from the center of the metal strip and engaging the ends of tabs desired, be struck upwardly from the body of the slider. These receive pivots 44 which may be formed integrally with pull 48. The pivots may be formed at the ends of arins 48, and the latter may be initially spread apart to facilitate attaching the pull to the slider, the arms subsequently being closed toward one another to bring the pivots 44 into the bails 42, as shown in the drawings. The pull 48 further comprises an 'exr is disposed between balls 18. A pivot pin I4 is I driven through the bails and the curled end 12, and is preferably received with a force fit in one of these members, for example, the curled end 12.. This retains the pin 14 against axial movement without interfering with free oscillation of pull 88.

The top wall 52 of the slider is slotted at 18, and the bottom wall 54 is slotted at", to receive the extension or actuating finger 88 of the pull. It will be evident that when the pull is raised from the solid line position to the broken line position 88', preparatory to moving the slider,-the spring strip 84 is flexed from the solid line position to the broken line position 84, the actu-.

ating finger 88 moving to the broken line position 88' and bearing against the spring strip tension or spring-actuating finger 48 which is preferably disposed between the bails 42. The top wall 22 of the slider is slotted at 41 to receive the finger 48, and block 28 is milled or otherwise cut away at 58 to clear the end of the It will be evident from comparison of Figs. 3 and 5 thatwhen the pull 48 is turned'from the position shown in Fig.- 3 tothe position shown in Fig. 5, preparatory to moving the slider,

the center of the spring strip 38 is deflected to bottom-most position, thereby withdrawing the locking teeth and permitting free movement of the slider along the stringers of the slide fastener.

The arrangement as so far described is intended for use on an inverted slide fastener.

Referring-now to Figs. 6 through 8, I there show a modified construction intended for use on a fastener which opens from the top downwardly. It will be seen that the slider is generally like that previously described, in comprising flanged top and bottom walls 52 and 54 connected by a neck 58, the ends 58 of which are turned inwardly to form a hollow space or recess 88. The neck portion of the slider is completed by a block 82- which may be secured in position by spot-welding the same between the walls of the slider. A spring locking strip 64 extends transversely of the slider between the block 82 and the tabs 58, and its ends function as locking teeth. As before, the strip is centered by locating tongues 88, and is prevented from flexing in the wrong direction (in this 'case downwardly) by v In order to unlock the slider, the strip 84 is flexed upwardly from the solid line position to the broken line, position, therebyv retracting the locking teeth or' the ends of strip 84.

The slider isprovided with a pull 88. Inas much as the normal position of the pull is in a direction'opposite to that maintained with the inverted slider previously described, it is necessary to somewhat change the pivoting of the pull. In the present case, the pull 88 located'on the front of the slider is ,pivoted at the back of the slider. Specifically, the back wall 84 is provided with bails I8,'and the curled end 12 of the pull bearing holes 98, as is indicated at I8I, thus providing parallel bearings,

downward movement.

during its movement.

If it is desired that the pull 88 move further to a position substantially perpendicular to the slider, it is merely necessary to appropriately change the location of the pivot carrying the pull. A modification of this character is shown in Figs. 9 through 12 of the drawings. .Here again the slider comprises flanged top and bottom walls 82 and 84 connected by a preferably integrally formed neck 88. The latter is provided with inturned tabs 88 forming a recess 98 into which the locking strip 92 may be flexed, as is indicated by the broken line position 92,. The lower element 84 of the neck portion is inthe present case made of sheet metal instead of being a solid block. The metal is bent to V-shape, as is shown.

in Figs. 9 and 12. It is preferably providedwith tongues 88 at the top and bottom-these tongues passing through mating holesin the walls of the slider, and being riveted to hold the member 94 in place and to prevent separation of the slider walls. The riveted ends are clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The sides of member 94 are perforated at 98 to receive the pivot I88 for the pull. The walls are preferably indented around and also recessing the ends of pivot I88.

The top wall 82 of the slider is slotted at 102 to receive the extension or actuating finger I84 of pull I88. It will be evident from inspection of Fig. 10 that when pull I88 is raised from the solid line position to the broken line position I88, the actuating part I84 bears against the spring strip 92 and flexes the same upwardly to the broken line position 92'. [In this way the locking action of the slider is released;

When the pull I88 is in the solid line position shown in Fig. 10, it is incapable of further downward movement. For this reason, the part I84 'of the pull may itself be used to support the springstrip 82 against downward flexing. This is clearly shown in Fig. 9. A construction of this nd may also be used in the slider shown in Figs. 6 through 8, it then being unnecessary for the block 82 to support the spring strip against In assembling the slider of Figs. 9 through 12', the pivot portion I88 of pull I88 may first be passed through slot I82 of the slider while the walls of the slider are still spread apart in divergent relation. The pull may be turned to a position perpendicular to thatshownin Fig. 11 during this operation, so that the pivot I 88 will be longitudinal of the slot I82. The V-shaped piece 94 is initially made with its walls spread apart far enough to receive the pivot I88, and the walls are closed together on the pivot. The main walls neck of the slider.

of the slider are then closed together over the tongues 95, the outer ends of which are finally riveted to hold the slider in assembled relation."

Other methods of assembly may be followed, as by making the slot I02 longer than shown, and making the pull I06 narrow enough to be received through slot I02, in which case the part 94 may be assembled with the pull before the pull is added to the slider, the latter being passed through slot I02 from the inside toward the outside of the slider before the slider walls are bent together at the neck.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well asthe advantages of my improved locking slider, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in several preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to .be defined in the following claims In some claims refer-- ence is made to locking teeth and resilient means normally causing the same to move outwardly into locking position and it will be-understood that the ends of the spring strip are the locking teeth, while the remainder or middle portion of the spring strip constitutes the resilient means for moving the teeth. Some claims refer to a spring actuator moved by the pull, and it will be understood that the spring actuator is the finger 4B in the first form of the invention, or

" the parts 80 and IM, respectively, in the second and third forms of the invention, for although these parts are most simply made integral with the pull, they need not necessarily be so made,

and they functionas distinct parts in the complete mechanism.

I claim:

1. A locking slider for a slide fastener having interlockable fastener elements, said slider comprising top and bottom walls connected at a neck,

locking teeth disposed at said neck and projecting laterally sidewardly from the inside toward the outside of the slider into the passages for the slide fastener elements, a pull pivctally mounted prising top and bottom walls connected by a neck .ment of the slider along the fastener.

4. A locking slider for a slide fastener including tapes having interlockable fastener elements secured along the edges thereof, said slider com prising flanged top and bottom walls connected by a neck portion, a spring strip extending transversely through said neck portion, a pull pivotally mounted on said slider, a passage. affording movement of a part of the pull into the neck portion of the slider and against the spring strip,

the parts being so disposed that when the pull extendsin the direction of the slider the ends of the spring .strip project from the neck portion to lock the slider, but when the pull is raised to a position transverse of the slider the spring strip is so flexed by the aforesaid part of the pull that the ends of the strip are retracted substantially within the neck portion of the slider.

5. A locking slider for a slide fastener, said slider comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to .form top and bottom walls connected by an integral neck, said neck having inturned ends forming a recess at the neck of the slider, an additional camming portion secured between the walls of the slide'r and spaced somewhat from the inturned ends, a spring locking strip disposed transversely'of the slider through the neck on said slider, resilient means located at the neck portionof the slider adjacent the teeth for normally causing said locking teeth to move in opposite direction outwardly into locking position,

and means actuated by turning said pull to a position transverse of the slider for retracting the locking teeth in opposite direction into the 2. A locking slider for a slide ing tapes having inter-lockable elements secured along the edges thereof, said elements .having jaws clamped on the tapes and heads projecting from the jaws, said slider comprising flanged top and bottom walls connected at a neck, locking teeth disposed at said neck and projecting later-'- ally sidewardly from the inside toward the outside of the slider into the passages for the slide fastener includfastener elements for engagement betweenthe heads of the interlockable elements, a pull pivotally mounted on said slider, resilient means normally causing said locking teeth to move in opposite direction outwardly into locking position,

and means located at the neck portion of the slider and actuated by turning said pull to a position transverse of the slider for retracting the'locking teethin opposite direction substanslide fastener having portion thereof, the ends of said strip projectin from the neck portion of the slider to lock the slider, a pull, a spring actuator located at the neck portion of the slider and moved by the pull,

the arrangement being such that when the pull is raised the actuator bears against the locking strip and bends the same into the aforesaid recess and thereby retracts the ends of the strip enough to permit movement of the slider.

6. A locking slider for a slide fastener, said slider comprising-a piece of sheet metal bent to form top and bottom walls connected by an integral neck, said neck having inturned ends forming a recess at the neck of the slider, an additional camn ing portion secured between the walls of the slider and spaced somewhat from themturned ends, a spring coking strip disposed transversely of the slider through the neck portion thereof, the ends of said strip projecting from the neck portion of the slider to lock the slider, a pull, a spring actuator formed integrally with the pull, the arrangement being such that when the pull is raised the.actuator bears against the locking strip and bends the same into the aforesaid recess and thereby retracts theends of the strip enough to permit movement of the slider, and means to hold the spring strip in symtener having interlockable elements, said slider comprising top and bottom walls connected at a neck portion having a recess therein, a resilient strip of metal disposed transversely of the slider at 'said neck portioman end of said metal strip "on said pull, said finger being sodisposed that when the pull is raised to a position transverse of the slider the finger bears against the spring strip and bends the same in such a manner asto retract the end of the spring strip enough to permit movement of the slider.

8. A locking slider for an inverted slide fastener including tapes having interlockable fastener elements secured along the edges thereof, said slider'comprising' flanged top and bottom walls connected at a neck portion having a, recess therein, a resilient strip of metal disposed transversely .of the slider at said neck portion, .the ends of' said metal strip functioning as locking teeth to lock theslider against movement, a pull pivoted on said slider and normallyhanging in a direction opposite the slider for pse in inverted.

position, a finger on said pull, said finger being so disposed that when the pull is raised'to a position transverse of the slider the finger bears against the center of the spring strip and displaces the same in such a manner as to retract the ends of the spring strip enough to permit movement of the slider, and means to prevent the v spring strip from flexing in a direction opposite to that in which it is flexed -by the finger on the pull when the pull is raised.

9. A locking slider for an inverted slide fasthe slider at a point spaced downwardly from the top wall of the slider, the arrangement being such that when the pull is raised a part thereof near the pivot bears against the locking strip and ,bends the same and thereby retracts the strip enough to permit movement of the slider.

12. A locking slider for a slide fastener including tapes having interlockable fastener elementssecured along the edges thereof, said slider comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to form flanged top and bottom walls connected by an integral neck, said neck having inturned ends forming a recess at the neck of the slider, an additional' camming portion secured betweenthe walls of' the slider and spaced somewhat from the inturned ends, a spring locking strip disposed transversely of the slider through the neck portion thereof, the ends of said strip projecting from the neck portion of the slider to lock the slider, a pull having an inwardly bent part passtener, said slider comprising top and bottomwalls connected at a neck portion having a recess therein, a resilient strip of metal'disposed transver'sely of the slider at said neck portion, the ends of said metal strip functioning as locking teeth to lock the slideragainst movement, a pull pivoted on said slider and normally hanging in a direction opposite the slider for use. in inverted position, a finger on said pull, said-finger being so disposed that when the pull is raised to a position transverse of the slider the finger bears against the center of the spring strip and displaces the same into the recess in such a manner as to retract the ends of the spring strip enough to permitmovement of the slider, and means at the spring to hold the spring in symmetrical relation to the slider.

10. A locking slider for a slide fastener including tapes having interlockable fastener elements 'securedalong the edges thereof, said slider comprising flanged top and bottom walls connected at a neck portion having a recess therein, a resilient strip of metal disposed transversely of the slider at said neck portion, the ends of said metal strip functioning as locking teeth to lock the slider against movement, a pull pivoted on said slider an i normally hanging in a direction opposite the slider for use "in inverted position,-a finger on said pull, said finger-being so disposed that when the pull is raised to a position transverse of the slider the finger bears against the center of the spring strip and displaces the same in uch amanner as to retract the ends of the spring strip ing through the neck adjacent the locking strip, the end of said pull being pivotally mounted on the slider at a point spaced downwardly from the top wall of the slider, the arrangement being such that when the pull is raised a part thereof near the pivot bears against the locking strip and bends the same into the aforesaid recess and thereby retracts the ends of the strip enough to permit movement of the slider.

13. A locking slider for a slide fastener, said slider comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to .from the neck portion of the slider to lock the slider, a pull having an inwardly bent part passing through the neck adjacent the locking strip, the end of said pull being pivotally mounted on the slider at a point spaced downwardly from the- I top wall of the slider, the arrangement being enough to permit movement of the slider, means to center the spring strip against sideward'displacement, and means to prevent the spring strip fromfiexing ,irra direction opposite to that in which it is flexed by the finger on the pull when the pull is raised.

116 A locking slider for a slide fastener, said such that when the pull is raised a part thereof near the pivot bears against the locking strip and bends the same into the aforesaid recess and thereby retracts the ends of the strip enough to permit movement of the slider, means at the spring strip to hold the spring strip in symmetrical relation=to the slider, and means on the side of the strip-opposite the recess to prevent the strip from flexing in a direction opposite the recess.-

portion, flanges at the sides of the slider to form slider channels, a spring strip, an end of said spring strip being disposed in one of said slider channels to normally look the slider, fulcrum means supporting said spring strip at spaced points, a pull pivotally mounted on the slider,

and a spring actuator moved by the pull, the

slider comprising top and bottom Walls-00111190131 parts being so disposed that when the pull extends inthe direction of the slider the endof the spring strip projects into the slider channel to lock the slider, but when the'pull is raised to transversely of the slider through the neck por move the slider the spring actuator bears against the spring strip between theiulcrums and so flexes the spring strip in one direction that the end or looking portionof the strip is retracted from the slider channel in generally opposite direction enough to permit movement of .the slider along the i'astener, 7

15. A locking slider for a slide fastener having 'interlockable fastener elements, said slider com- 'the'spring strip project into the slider channels to lock the slider, but when the pull is raised to move the slider the spring actuator bears against the spring strip between the tulcrums and so flexes the spring strip in one direction that the ends or looking portions of the strip are retracted from the slider channels in gen-. erally opposite direction enough to permit movement of the slider along the fastener.

16. A locking slider having conventional channels tor a slide fastener, a lug on said slider for pivotally carrying a pull, a spring strip an end or which is disposed in one of the channels 0! the sliderto act as a locking tooth for engaging fastener elements and thereby locking the slider against movement, spaced fulcrums on said slider for supporting said spring strip at spaced points, a pull pivoted on said lug, said pull having a portion for bearing against the spring strip between the fulcrums when the'pull is raised to move the slider, the resulting flexing of the spring strip between the fulcrums in one direction causing movement of the end locking portion of the spring strip in generally opposite direction'out of the slider channel with consequent unlocking of the slider.

17. A locking slider having-conventional chan-v nels for a slide fastener, a lug on said slider for pivotally carrying a pull, a spring strip the ends of which are disposed in the channels of'the slider to act as locking teeth for engaging fastener elements and thereby locking the slider against movement. spaced fulcrums on said slider for supporting said spring strip at spaced points intermediate the ends and the center portion of the spring strip, a pull pivoted on said lug, said pull having a portion for bearing against the spring strip between the fulcrums when the pull is raised to move the slider, the resulting flexing of the spring strip between the fulcrums inone direction causing movement of the end lockin portions or the spring strip in generally opposite direction out of the slider channels with consequent unlocking of the slider.

BERNARD S, FRANKLIN. 

